New NJ Transit Bicycle Guidelines Expand Options For Riders

NEWARK—The NJ Transit Board of Directors today adopted a new Bike Aboard Program that expands travel options for cyclists effective July 1, enabling them to bring their bicycles onboard trains at all stations.

“We heard from many customers who felt that NJ Transit’s bicycle policy was too restrictive to make riding their bikes to and from train stations a viable option,” said Transportation Commissioner and NJ Transit Board Chairman James Simpson. “In taking a fresh look at the existing policy, we found that some simple adjustments would enable us to significantly expand access for our bicycle-riding customers.”

“For many customers, bicycles are a way of completing the ‘last mile’ between the train station and their destinations,” said NJ Transit Executive Director James Weinstein. “By relaxing our Bike Aboard Program, we are encouraging an environmentally-friendly mode of travel that promotes the use of our rail service throughout the state.”

In response to customer feedback and comments from the bicycling community, Simpson and Weinstein asked the North and South Jersey Transportation Advisory Committees (TACs) to review NJ Transit’s existing bicycle policy and make recommendations that could safely reduce restrictions limiting bicycle access on trains. The Bicycle Policy Subcommittee was formed, led by NJTAC Chair Suzanne Mack and comprised of other TAC members, transportation officials, planners and bicycle advocates.

The committee was tasked with addressing concerns raised by commuters who have experienced restrictions when attempting to board NJ Transit trains with bicycles, without compromising the safety of customers and employees.

Effective July 1, NJ Transit’s new Bike Aboard Program will allow customers to bring their bicycles onboard trains on all rail lines at all train stations, with some exceptions during heavy travel periods. The policy will also allow train crew members to use discretion when allowing bicycles onboard trains if they have concerns about public safety.

The new policy does not require preregistration or permits, and there is no additional charge for bringing bicycles onboard trains.

Below are the highlights of the revised policy:

Collapsible bicycles are accommodated on all NJ Transit trains at all times.

Standard-frame bicycles are permitted on the Atlantic City Rail Line at all times and on other rail lines at all times with the following exceptions:

On weekdays: Bicycles are not permitted on inbound trains that end in Hoboken, Newark or New York between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. Bicycles are not permitted on outbound trains that originate in Hoboken, Newark or New York between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. These trains are indicated by a Q in public timetables.

On weekends: Bicycles are not permitted on inbound trains to New York between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. Bicycles are not permitted on outbound trains from New York between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.

On the following holidays as well as the business day before these holidays: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Day After Thanksgiving, Sunday After Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Bicycles are not permitted on the day before Rosh Hashanah or day before Yom Kippur, but are permitted on the prior business day and day of the holiday itself.

Other times: Bicycles are not permitted on substitute bus service during rail service outages.